partiality of private partisans sometimes induces
authors to venture forth, and stand a public decision;
but it is often found to betray them too; not to be
tossed by waves of perpetual contention, but rather
to sink in the silence of total neglect. What
wonder! He who swims in oil must be buoyant indeed,
if he escapes falling certainly, though gently, to
the bottom; while he who commits his safety to the
bosom of the wide-embracing ocean, is sure to be strongly
supported, or at worst thrown upon the shore.

On this principle it has been still my study to obtain
from a humane and generous Public that shelter their
protection best affords from the poisoned arrows of
private malignity; for though it is not difficult to
despise the attempts of petty malice, I will not say
with the Philosopher, that I mean to build a monument
to my fame with the stones thrown at me to break my
bones; nor yet pretend to the art of Swift’s
German Wonder-doer, who promised to make them fall
about his head like so many pillows. Ink, as
it resembles Styx in its colour, should resemble it
a little in its operation too; whoever has been once
dipt should become invulnerable:
But it is not so; the irritability of authors has
long been enrolled among the comforts of ill-nature,
and the triumphs of stupidity; such let it long remain!
Let me at least take care in the worst storms that
may arise in public or in private life, to say with
Lear,

—­I’m
one
More sinn’d against,
than sinning.

For the book—­I have not thrown my thoughts
into the form of private letters; because a work of
which truth is the best recommendation, should not
above all others begin with a lie. My old acquaintance
rather chose to amuse themselves with conjectures,
than to flatter me with tender inquiries during my
absence; our correspondence then would not have been
any amusement to the Public, whose treatment of me
deserves every possible acknowledgment; and more than
those acknowledgments will I not add—­to
a work, which, such as it is, I submit to their candour,
resolving to think as little of the event as I can
help; for the labours of the press resemble those
of the toilette, both should be attended to, and finished
with care; but once complete, should take up no more
of our attention; unless we are disposed at evening
to destroy all effect of our morning’s study.